Where Are The Side Cramps?
Most people are likely to have side cramps at some point in their lives. It’s a disgusting feeling that harasses people who enjoy physical sports, whether it’s at a competitive level or just for fun. This uncomfortable pain sometimes makes prolongation impossible, as the side cramps only ease when the exercise is stopped.
Rib cramps feel sharp pain in the side between the chest and abdomen. Many often wonder if they are a sign of some dangerous or symptom damage to the body. However, there is nothing to fear in them, although the pain can become really intense.
To date, researchers have no definite answer to what causes rib cramps. However, they have many theories that can explain this annoying pain.
Continue reading to learn more!
What are side cramps?
The side cramps are a sharp and stabbing pain in the side area. The pain starts suddenly during repetitive exercise and often prevents the activity from continuing as normal.
Rib cramps most often appear when performing energetic activities, but mainly while running. They have traditionally been associated with eating food before exercise, but cyclists who eat during races seem to have scrapped this theory.
What causes lateral cramps?
No definitive summary has been made of the cause of the side cramps. None of the existing studies can explain with certainty their exact cause.
However, one of the most accepted theories shows that they often occur after constant friction or tension in the ligaments that connect the diaphragm to the abdomen. This friction can cause irritation of the peritoneum covering the abdominal cavity.
In another theory, this sharp pain, in turn, is caused by poor breathing. When breathing is troublesome and unstable, it can cause a lack of oxygen in the body and cause the diaphragm to restrict itself.
Studies also show that sports that require a lot of energy in a short period of time – like all speeds – tend to cause side cramps more often than usual. The physical activities that cause the most side cramps are:
- Swimming: 75%
- Athletics: 69%
- Riding: 62%
- Aerobics: 52%
- Baseball: 47%
- Cycling: 32%
What makes side cramps worse?
Clinical trials have succeeded in determining that some factors increase the risk of side pain and make the pain more intense without directly causing side cramps. Such factors include:
- Eating and drinking profusely before exercise: This causes the weight to accumulate in the abdomen and the abdomen moves more, creating more friction with the diaphragm.
- Stiffness and Increased Muscle Tension: Excessive stiffness of the stabilizing muscles around the spine tends to cause rib cramps more often in athletes.
- Intensity of exercise: The more intense the form of exercise, the greater the risk of suffering from side cramps.
Both men and women seem to suffer from this problem without major differences. Some studies have found that this problem is more common in young people and less common in older people.
Prevention of side cramps
Although the exact cause of rib cramps is not known, some methods have been shown to be effective in avoiding or preventing them. We recommend the following guidelines:
- Maintain a healthy diet: Digestive problems increase the risk of side pain.
- Avoid aggressive body waving.
- Breathe regularly and evenly.
- Strengthen the abdominal area and train for breathing.
- Do not eat much before strenuous physical activity.
- Drink only small amounts of water during exercise, but do so regularly. Do not drink a lot of fluids at once.
If you get side cramps, it is recommended to slow down and press your hand on the area of the abdomen where the pain is felt. If the discomfort persists, you should stop, adjust your breathing and stretch your stomach.
